


REPORT OF THE 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 

OF DEFENSE 



WASHINGTON. D. C. 



i 



JUNE 9, 1917, TO JUNE 30, 1919 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1919 



/ 



REPORT OF THE 
DISTRICT COUNCIL 

OF DEFENSE (m7-/^i.^ 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



$ 



JUNE 9, 1917, TO JUNE 30, 1919 



CiO 



WASHINGION 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1919 



31570 
.8 



n, »f B. 

uec 22 1919 






DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

1415 Twenty-first Street NW., Washington, D. C. 



Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. 
Wm. B. King, Vice Chairman. 
John Poole, Treasurer. 
Edwin S. Hege, Secretary. 

CHAIBMEN OF COMMITTEES. 

Coordination of societies Wm. H. Baldwin. 

Finance John Poole. 

Food supply and conservation Wm. B. King. 

Housing Dr. George M. Kober. 

Labor , A.rthur E. Holder. 

Legal problems Joseph W. Cox. 

Publicity , Jeremiah A. O'Leary. 

Sanitation and medicine Dr. W. C. Woodward. 

Woman's committee Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. 



COMMITTEES. 



Coordination of societies: 

Mr. Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. 

Mr. John Joy Edson. 

Mr. Walter C. Clephane. 

Mr. George S. Wilson. 

Mr. Corcoran Thorn. 
Finance : 

Mr. John Poole, Chairman. 
(No members appointed.) 
Food supply and conservation : 

Mr. Wm. B. King, Chairman. 

Mrs. Whitman Cross. 

Mrs. Thomas W. Sidwell. 

Mr. John Brayshaw, jr. 

Mr. Charles I. Corby. 

Mr. John B. Earnshaw. 

Mr. Wm. G. Carter. 

Mr. J. A. Whitfield. 

Mr. H. C. Graham. 

Mr. E. J. Ayers. 

Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor. 

Mrs. F. L. Ransome. 

Mrs. Carl Vrooman. 

Mr. John B. Colpoys. 

Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore. 

Mr. Wm. H. Johnson. 
Housing : 

Dr. George M. Kober, Chairman. 

Mr. A. P. Clark. 

Mr. John Joy Edson. 

Mr. George E. Hamilton. 

Mr. Charles E. Hood. 

Mr. Wm. D. Hoover. 

Mr. Elliott Woods. 

Mr. George Truesdell. 

Mr. Richard B. Watrous. 



Housing — Continued. 

Mr. W. I. Swanton. 

Mr. H. M. McLarin. 

Mr. William Blackman. 
Labor : 

Mr. Arthur E. Holder, Chairman. 

Mr. A. H. Beres. 

Mr. J. A. Slyder. 

Mr. Edward Northnagel. 

Mr. Jackson H. Ralston. 

Mr. C. W. McCaffery. 

Mr. Fred Hewitt. 

Mr. George E. Hamilton. 

Mr. E. B. Byrne. 
Legal problems: 

Mr. Joseph W. Cox, Chairman. 

Mr. Justin Morrill Chamberlin. 

Mr. A. A. Hoehling, jr. 

Mr. Clarence R. Wilson. 

Mr. Ralph B. Fleharty. 
Publicity : 

Mr. J. A. O'Leary, Chairman. 

Mr. Y. E. Booker. 

Mr. John L. Martin. 

Mr. L. M. Bell. 

Mr. J. L. Yeagle. 
Sanitation and medicine: 

Dr. W. C. Woodward, Chairman. 
(No members appointed.) 
Woman's committee : 

Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, C/iairmcH. 

INIrs. James W. Wadsworth. 

Mrs. Augustus P. Gardner. 

Mrs. George Howard. 

Mrs. Louis Brownlow. 

Mrs. William Belden Noble. 



.3 n:,!-;a:iir^uoo;j> 



,-.-!' 



July 1, 1919. 

To the Commissioners of the DistHct of Columbia: 

Gentlemen ; I have the honor to transmit herewith a report cov- 
ering the activities of the District Council. of Defense from its or- 
ganization on June 9, 1917, to June 30, 1919. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. 

5 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

WASHINGTON. D. C. 



The Council of National Defense was established by the act of 
Congress of August 29, 1916, and consisted of the Secretary of War, 
Secretary of the Navy. Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Com- 
merce, Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Interior. These 
officials were ex officio clothed with authority to do in their depart- 
ments the things necessary in preparation for war. 

The same act provided for an advisory commission for the Council 
of National Defense, to consist of seven men prominent in various 
lines of activity. To this representatives of the railroads, manufac- 
turing, education, labor, raw materials, supplies, and medicine were 
■ appointed. The Council of National Defense, with the advisory 
commission, took the lead in preparing for war, and, with a large 
number of affiliated committees made up of the leading men of the 
Nation, Avere active in assembling the resources of the country at the 
time when war was declared. 

Following out this idea. Secretary Baker, chairman of the Council 
of National Defense, on April 9, 1917, sent a letter to the governor of 
each State, asking that similar bodies, wliich might be called State 
councils of defense, be formed in each State to cooperate with the 
Council of National Defense in enlisting the energies of all the people 
in the work undertaken. 

Perhaps because it is not, strictly speaking, a State, and perhaps 
because it is so closely connected with the Federal Government, no 
such letter was sent to the District of Cohnnbia, and it was not until 
Secretary Baker, as chairman of the Council of National Defense, on 
April 20. 1917, issued a call for a National Defense Conference, to be 
made up of the representatives of each State, or of each of the State 
councils of defense, that the Commissioners of the District of Colum- 
bia were made aware of the movement which Avas taking place and 
of the request to join in it. This National Defense Conference was 
summoned to meet in Washington on May 2 and 3. 1917, and the 
commissioners, finding that it was expected that the District of 
Columbia would participate in the conference, appointed Mr. Wil- 
liam H. Baldwin to represent the District in it. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE CONFERENCE. 

The National Defense Conference met on the morning of May 2. 
1917, with representatives connected with State councils of defense 
or other war activities from all but three of the States, including the 
governors of nine of them, to the number of 46. Two days were spent 
in an earnest effort to find out how best to help the Federal Govern-, 
ment and how to act together most wisely to this end. 



8 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

On the first day the conference listened to addresses by Secretary 
Baker, Secretary Daniels, Judge Advocate Gen. Crowder, Adj. Gen. 
McCain, Secretary Lane, Secretary Wilson, the Assistant Secretary 
of Agriculture, and others. An informal dinner in the evening 
brought out some pointed and practical discussion of important 
phases of the situation. 

The next day the conference listened to addresses by Mr. Daniel 
Willard, Dr. Franklin Martin, Mr. Howard E. Coffin, and otliers 
connected Avith the advisory commission of the Council of National 
Defense, as well as to Mr. Wadsworth, of the Red Cross; and after a 
second plenary session in the office of the Secretary of War to receive 
his expressions of appreciation of the interest taken, the conference 
separated feeling that the time had been well spent. 

From what developed at the conference it was apparent that State 
councils of defense had already been formed in practically every 
State, that New York and Massachusetts each had been working on 
the problem for a j^ear, that each had spent considerable sums, and 
that other States were already well along in preparation for war. 

DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE FORMED. 

In reporting on the conference to the commissioners next day Mr. 
Baldwin stated these facts and recommended that a District Council 
of Defense be formed, but without all the committees in the standard 
organization suggested for State councils of defense because of the 
different conditions in the District. Feeling the need of such a body 
to assist them iii carrying the work Avhich was crowding upon them 
so heavily on account of the war, the commissioners established the 
District Council of Defense, to consist in part of eight of the com- 
mittees recommended by the Council of National Defense for the 
States, viz : 

Coordination of societies Food supply and conservation. 

Finance Legal problems. 

Labor Sanitation and medicine. 

Publicity Woman's committee. 

Because of the need of particular attention to the subject on account 
of the crowd of incoming Governmeot workers, there was added 
to these a committee on housing, making nine. It was understood 
that the District Council of Defense, with power of action, would 
consist of the chairmen of these committees, but that they would 
nominate to the commissioners other members of each committee, 
who would be appointed by the commissioners and who would act 
in an advisor}^ capacity. 

Of these committees seven were appointed at once, with the fol- 
lowing chairmen : 

Coordination of societies Mr. William H. Baldwin. 

Finance J Mr. John Poole. 

Food supply and conservation Mr. Charles F. Nesbit. 

Housing Dr. R. S. Woodward. 

Legal problems Mr. J. S. Easby-Smith. 

Publicity Mr. A. J. McKelway. 

Sanitation and medicine Dr. W. C. Woodward. 

The first meeting was held on June 9, 1917, at the call of Commis- 
sioner Brownlow, who explained to the council the purposes for 



REPORT Ol-^ DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 9 

which it was established. He spoke particuhirly of the need of pro- 
vision for housing accommodations, and in the discussion Dr. R. S. 
Woodward brought out clearly tlie necessity of providing food as 
well as .shelter. It was understood that this phase of the problen\ 
would receive particular attention from the council as it developed. 

Within the next two Aveeks Mr. Arthur E. Plolder was appointed 
chairman of the committee on labor, and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, 
chairman of the woman's committee. Mr. William H. Baldwin, at 
the suggestion of Commissioner Brownlow, was elected chairman of 
the council at its first meeting, and at the second meeting, on June 
21, Dr. R. S. Woodward was chosen vice chairman. 

The District Council of Defense took the situation as it found it. 
The first Liberty loan had already been carried through very suc- 
cessfully by a committee, of Vvhich Mr. Poole was chairman ; and, 
under the leadership of Mr. Henry B. F. Macfarland, with a com- 
plete organization, the first Red Cross campaign for money had been 
conducted, so no finance committee was ever appointed, nor was any 
committee on sanitation and medicine appointed, because the health 
department was quite able to support the chairman of that committee 
without any further organization. 

COMMITTEES APPOIKrED.- 

Owing to some delay in completing the list for members of the 
housing committee, in addition to those suggested by the chairman, 
appointments for this important committee were not made until 
November 19, but the committees as originally completed then stood 
as follow^s: 

Coordination of societies. — Mr. William H. Baldwin (cliaiimiiii), Mr. John 
Joy Edson, Mr. AValter C. Clepbiine, Mr. George S. Wilson, and Mr. Corcoran 
Thom. 

Finance. — Mr. .Tohii Poole (chairman). 

Food, supply and eonscrvation. — Mr. Charles F. Nesbit, chairman ; Mr. Wm. 
B. King. Mrs. Whitman Cross, Mrs. Thomas W. Sidwell, Mr. .lolm Brayshavv, 
jr., Mr. Charles I. Corby, Mr. .John B. Earnshaw, Mr. Wm. G. Carter, Mr. ,T. A. 
Whitfield, Mr. H. C. Graham, Mr. E. ,T. Ayers, IMrs. Gilbert Grosvenor. Mrs. 
F. L. Ransome, Mrs. Carl Vrooman, Mr. .Tohn B. Colpoys, ;Mrs. Charles W. 
Wetmore. and Mr. Wm. H. .Tohnson. 

Hoi/sinfj. — Dr. R. S. Woodward, cJiainnnn; Mr. A. P. Clark. Mr. .John .Toy 
Edson, Mr. (4eorge E. Hamilton, Mr. Charles E. Hood, Mr. William D. Hoover, 
Mr. Elliott AVoods, Mr. George Trnesdell, Mr. Richard B. Watrous, INIr. W. I. 
Swanton, ]\Ir. H. IM. McLarin, and Mr. William Blaekman. 

Labor. — ivir. Arthur E. Holder, cJiairman: Mv. A. H. Beres, Mr. ,T. A. Slyder, 
Mr. Edward Nothnagel. Mr. Jackson H. Ralston, Mr. C. W. McCaffery, Mr. 
Fred Hewitt, Mr. George E. Hamilton, and IMr. E. B. Byrne. 

Legal proidcvhs. — Mr. ,T. S. Easby-Smith, chairman; Mr. .Justin Morrill Chum- 
berlin, Mr. A. A. Hoehling, jr., Mr. Clarence R. Wilson, Mr. Ralph B. Fleharty, 
and Mr. Joseph W. Cox. 

PuhlieiUi. — Mr. A. J. McKelway, chairman; Mr. Y. E. Booker, IMr. John L. 
Martin, IMr. L. M. Bell, and Mr. J. L. Yeagle. 

Sandtation and medicine. — Dr. W. C. Woodward, chairman. 

Woman's committee. — Airs. Archibald Ho]ikins, chainnan; ]Mrs. Hai-riet 
Blaine Beale, Mrs. James W. Wadsworth, Mrs. Augustus P. Gardner, Mrs. 
George Howard, Mrs. Louis Brownlow, and Mrs. William Belden Noble. 

By reason of taking up important duties in the office of the Judge 
Advocate General, Mr. J. S. Easby-Smith gave notice of his resigna- 
tion from the coinicil on July 27, 1917. and Mr. Joseph W. Cox, Avho 
145740—19 2 



10 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

was appointed in his place, has been chairman of the committee on 
legal problems since that time. 

On November 2, 1917, it was stated that Mr. Charles F. Nesbit had 
been obliged to resign from the council because of his appointment as 
commissioner of military and naval insurance in the War Risk In- 
surance Bureau, and Mr. William B. King was, on November 27, 

1917, appointed chairman of the committee on food supj)ly and con- 
servation in his place. After having done faithful work for many 
months as chairman of the housing committee and vice chairman 
of the council. Dr. R. S. Woodward Avithdrew from the council by 
resigning the chairmanship of the committee on December 26, 1917. 
The chairmanship was unfilled until January 29, 1918, when Mr. 
E. E. Clement was appointed to succeed Dr. Woodward. Because of 
absence from the citj', and consequent inability to give nuich time 
to the Avork, Mr. Clement's resignation was accepted on April 5, 

1918, and the housing committee was again without a chairman 
until May 31, 1918, when Dr. George M. Kober, who has been chair- 
man since, was appointed. 

On January 31, 1918, Mr. William B. King was made vice chair- 
man of the council to succeed Dr. R. S. Woodward, and Mr. John 
Poole, who, as chairman of the finance committee, had attended to 
Ihe finances of the council, Avas appointed treasurer. 

The chairman of the i^ublicity committee, Mr. A. J. McKelway, 
who had taken a great interest not only in work pertaining to that 
committee but also in all the affairs of the council, passed away very 
unexpectedly on April 16, 1918, and JNIr. J. A. O'Leary, Avho is now 
chairman of the committee, Avas appointed to succeed him. 

At the meeting on April 25, 1918, on the recommendation of the 
chairman, the council elected Mr. EdAvin S. Hege, Avho had been 
manager of tlie room-registration office almost ever since its estab- 
lishment, secretary of the council in order that he might relieve the 
chairman of some of the Avork which had fallen upon him, especially 
m connection Avith the housing and rooming situation. 

COORDINATION OF SOCIETIES. 

The committee on coordination of societies assembled a list of or- 
ganizations and committees in all the different branchesi of Avork 
relating in any Avay to preparation for Avar, both official and unoffi- 
cial. It i^romptly held a meeting to go over the ground and advise 
the council as to the general policy to be pursued. The rest of the 
work Avas accomplished by personal consultation Avith other members 
of the committee and by the action of the council as a whole. It 
hel})ed to discourage unnecessary activities, particularly in the Avay 
of appeals, and of other organizations Avliich sought to take charge 
of different phases of the housing problem, and at the same time en- 
couraged other organizations in the necessary work which they were 
doing. 

FINANCE. 

The council had no appropriation for more than a year. The 
commissioners furnished it with a room and telephone service in the 
District Building, together with some office supplies. It was not 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 



11 



until early in August that the chairman of the finance committee 
attempted to raise $1,500, which was estimated to be the least 
amount on which the council could run for a year, by making per- 
sonal appeals to 300 men in the District for a contribution of $5 
each — no more, no less. Because of the many absences at that time 
of the year this appeal brought in only $825. The first vice chair- 
man of the council later contributed $100, and the remainder of the 
expenses of clerk hire, stationery, postage, and supplies during that 
time were paid for by the chairman personally. 

The council might, perhaps, have accomplished more if it had 
had larger funds to employ more assistance and to do more printing, 
as was done by some of the State councils ; but the press and others 
were much interested, and the council accomplished all it could with 
the resources at its command. 

For the follovring year the commissioners asked for an appropri- 
ation for the council of $25,000, most of which was to be needed for 
the conduct of the room-registration office, and the office was run- 
ning so well that this item was readily passed by both of the com- 
mittees and by each House of Congress; but owing to differences 
over other items, the appropriation bill was not passed and ap- 
proved until August 31, 1918. On this account it became necessary 
to ask for a continuation until that time of the grant of $1,800 per 
month made by the President for the room-registration office, and 
the expenses of tlie council as such continued to be paid as before. 
From the beginning of September the expenses of the room-regis- 
tration office were paid from the District appropriation, but on 
September 16 it Avas taken over by the Housing Corporation of the 
Department of Labor, which paid all its expenses from that date. 

As the expenditures for the room-registration office were in reality 
under the direction of the District Council of Defense and for its 
work, though made through the Council of National Defense for 
the amounts received from the President's fund, ft seems proper 
to include them in the statement of receipts and expenditures of 
the council and its connections. Taking into a( count the services 
for which it paid in connection with the Federal Employment Serv- 
ice and the children's year work toward the close of the fiscal year 
1919, the total amounts expended from Government funds by the 
council up to June 30, 1919, were as follows : 



President's fund 
through Council of 
National Defense. 



Fiscal year Fiscal year 
1918. 1919. 



District ap- 
propriation, 
fiscal year 
1919. 



Total. 



Salaries 

Furniture and equipment 
Rent 

Pninting, stationery, etc. . 
Miscellaneous expenses. . . 

Unexpended remainder . . 



, 650. 46 
301.05 
600. 00 
362. 90 
220. 63 



3, 178. 47 

' '466.' 66' 
20.14 
10.74 



9, 135. 04 
1,664.96 



3,609.35 
19.35 



$2, 872. 32 

""m.m 
66.' 66' 



3, 038. 98 
21,961.02 



$13,701.25 

301.05 

1,106.66 

383. 04 

291.37 



15,783.37 
23, 616. 63 



Excess of expenditures. 



i2 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL. OF DEFENSE. 

This docs not include the amount of $925 collected from individuals 
nor that paid personally by the chairman, most of which went for 
clerical services, office supplies, and printing, bringing the total ex- 
penses of the council up to $17,108.37. 

FOOD SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION. 

The pressure for attention to the food sui)])ly in the District was 
apparent from the first, and JNIr. Nesljit's committee entered the field 
with earnestness and energ}'. The members of this committee rep- 
resented not only those interested in the food problem from the 
standpoint of the community but also others identified with the 
wholesale and retail distribution of supplies and produce. Made 
up in this way, the committee was able to give reliable information 
as to the various projects and to make sii^estions as to the way in 
Avhich supplies could best be secured, the difficulties in the way of 
getting them in satisfactory amount or at a moderate price, and the 
jjest methods of keeping prices from advancing. 

The District Council of Defense soon after its organization took 
up, through the food supply and conservation committee, with the 
aid to the woman's committee, the securing of pledges for compli- 
ance Avith food regulations from householders throughout the Dis- 
trict on cards supplied by the Federal Food Administration. The 
help of the police was invoked hy means of an arrangement through 
the commissioners, and they distributed to householders the 90,000 
pledge cards which were printed by the council. It was not possible 
to oJbtain a franking privilege for these cards in order that they 
might be returned Avithout expense to the sender, as was afterwards 
done by the Food Administration, but a plan somewhat more elab- 
orate than any devised elsewhere was adopted in order to get back 
the cards and ftlso to give information in regard to what was desired 
in connection with them. 

This plan was to have the cards all taken up at designated school - 
houses in the District on July 10 and to have addresses by members 
of the Food Administration and others, so as to have the house- 
holders understand the reason for the pledge and to awaken a desire 
for complying with its requirements. 

There was an entire willingness on the part of teachers to cooperate 
in this work, and most of the meetings held as proposed had a good 
attendance, but the results were rather disappointing. The Food 
Administration was someAvhat dilatorj^ in reporting the exact result 
because of hindrances connected with the organization of its system 
and with the distribution of window cards ; but Avhile no definite fig- 
ures were secured from the Food Administration records, the council 
got the impression that not more than 10,000 pledges were obtained 
by all this effort. This may have been liecause the matter was not 
thoroughly understood by the housewives and also because the return 
of the cards was not made easier, as it afterwards was, by the use of 
the franking privilege. 

In the discussion of the supply and distribution of food attention 
was called to the great destruction caused by rats, which was some 
years since estimated by the Department of Agriculture in an investi- 
gation here to amount to $400,000 per annum in Washington. A sub- 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 13 

committee was appointed to make a report on the present situation as 
to this and to make recommendations for remedying it. Several 
meetings were held, but because of changes in the situation as to the 
food supj)ly and conservation committee the report Avas never sub- 
mitted. 

The food suj)ply and conservation committee held regular meetings 
from June 19, when the question of saving by discontinuing the re- 
turn of unsold bread was discussed, up to October 23, and covered ex- 
tended discussions as to the questions of prices, deliveries, transporta- 
tion, and the supply of vegetables at Ioav prices for canning. After 
going over the situation carefully it issued, on August 8, 1917, an 
urgent appeal to the citizens of the District to take advantage of the 
dull season to fill their bins with coal for the coming winter. This 
good advice was followed by many, but the announcement made sev- 
eral days later that the Government was going to reduce the price of 
coal stopped the movement entirely and added to the severity of the 
situation when winter came. 

On October 23, 1917, Mr. Clarence R. Wilson was appointed food 
administrator for the District, and as such was clothed with the au- 
thority, and given the money for an organization, which the District 
Council of Defense lacked ; and as Mr. Nesbit was at about the same 
time obliged to relinquish the chairmanship of the committee because 
of his appointment as chief of the division of military and naval 
insurance in the War Risk Insurance Bureau, the meetings were 
discontinued. 

On taking the matter up with Food Administrator Wilson on No- 
vember 14. 1917. soon after he had organized his office, Mr. Wilson 
stated to the chairman of the council that he desired to take cliarge 
of practically all of the work the food supply and conservation com- 
mittee had been appointed to do, but that it might be well to let the 
committee stand under the new chairman, Mr. William B. King, who 
had been appointed to succeed Mr. Nesbit, so that there might be an 
organization if it was thought best to have the council attempt any- 
thing further in this line. 

It was also understood that the council would continue to work 
with the Department of Agriculture in supporting the efforts of its 
agents in the District for gardening and home economics. 

The matter was accordingly arranged in this way, and the food 
supply and conservation committee, as such, has held no further 
meetings. 

GARDEX COINIMITTEE. 

The Capital Garden Club early in 1917 raised nearly $1,200 for the 
purpose of developing home gardens throughout the city, but not 
being organized to do the work in connection therewith another or- 
ganization, known as the central gardens committee, made up of rep- 
resentative citizens of the District, undertook the task. An office 
VN'ith a paid secretary was obtained in the Star Building, many tracts 
of land secured, and under the guidance of Mr. H. M. Conolly, the 
expert of the Department of Agriculture, about 5,000 gardens were 
planted. The Boy Scouts had a prominent ])art in this in connection 
with land allotted to them in Potomac Park. Great interest in the 
general undertaking was aroused, and at the close of the season the 
value of the food produced was estimated to be $260,000. 



14 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

About the 1st of July, 1017, and in connection with this, a can- 
ning enterprise was undertaken at the Thompson SchooL Many 
people brought in fruit and vegetables, and under .the leadership 
of Mrs. Charles W. Wetmore a Aery large number of jars were put up. 

It was thought that this plan might be extended to other places in 
the city under the supervision of Miss Mary W. Thurston, the expert 
of the Department of Agriculture; and as the central gardens com- 
mittee had exhausted its funds, and seemed to be unable to raise more^ 
the Department of Agriculture requested the District Council of 
Defense, as a semiofficial body, to appoint a committee which would 
aid its representatives in producing and preserving food in the Dis- 
trict. 

After going over the matter carefully with the department, the 
council appointed, on August 1, 1917, a gardening and canning com- 
mittee, with Mr. E. F. Colladay as chairman and Mrs. W. D. Bigelow 
as vice chairman, to look after this work. 

For reasons into which it is not necessary to go, and particularly 
because the season had clcsed, this committee found itself unable to 
carry on the work as proposed. It was accordingly dissolved, and 
two committees were appointed instead : A garden committee, with 
Mr. E. F. Colladay as chairman; Mr. A. J. Driscoll, Mr. J. A. Ber- 
berich, Mr. S. T. Cameron, and Mr. Charles F, Crane, representing 
various commercial bodies; and Hon. Albert Douglas and Mrs. F. H. 
Brooke, representing the Capital Gardens Club, was appointed to 
look after the gardening; and another committee of five women, with 
Mrs. W. D, Bigelow as chairman, to look after the home economics, 
including the preserving of food. 

Endeavoring to start its work, the home economics committee dis- 
covered that the field was already occupied by a committee of ladies 
connected with the Food Administration who were working in con- 
nection with the Department of Agriculture. As it seemed unde- 
sirable to have two committees doing the same thing it was suggested 
to the Food Administration that they merge ; but as this suggestion 
did not prove to be acceptable, and with the cordial consent of the 
Food Administration, the home economics committee of the District 
Council of Defense was dissolved, leaving the responsibility with the 
Food Administration and the Department of Agriculture. 

The garden committee, however, took up its work vigorously. An 
office in the Union Trust Building was secured, with a paid secre- 
tary and stenographer. During the winter garden clubs were organ- 
ized in various districts throughout the city and all available land 
was located. The Capital Gardens Club contributed $2,479.64, and 
from other sources $1,308.71 was received, making the total, which 
was all from private subscriptions, $3,788.35. The work was actively 
cai-ried on during the spring and summer, as shown by the following 
statistics : 

85 meetings held, with an attendance of 4,799. 

1,450 letters sent out. 

4,105 circular letters received in the office. 

2,020 telephone calls received asking for garden information. 

1.394 visitors called at the office. 

37,000 bulletins and circulars sent out. 

1,936 garden visits made by the agricultural agent (1.315 to dliTerent gardens). 

4,521 miles traveled (389 by street car, 3,954 by auto). 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 1 5 

The result of the work was that there were phmted — 

Home gurdens 11, 000 

School gardens IS. 200 

Total 29. 200 

This made the total acreage: 

Acres. 

Home gardeus 1, G70 

School gardens 150 

Private and public institution gardens 175 

Total 1, 995 

The hundreds of records collected in 1917 shoAved that an acre of 
home gardens produced vegetables valued at current prices at $474. 
In 1918, with theii- increased production in the gardens, due to better 
soil conditions, earlier planting, and more experience, and with the 
great increase in the market value of the product, the value of crops 
produced per acre was in the neighborhood of ^700. 

On the basis of 1,995 acres, at $700 per acre, the vegetables pro- 
duced in the home gardens of the District of Columbia in 1918 would 
have been wortli $1,89(),500, and may be safely figured at more than 
$1,000,000 and probably $1,250,000. ' 

As Mr. Colladay found it necessary to give up the chairmanship of 
the garden committee at the end of the season. Mr. Albert Douglas 
was appointed chairman of the committee, and the other members 
were continued to take up the Avork for the season 1918-19. It 
Avas expected that in vieAV of the importance of the Avork, and the 
splendid success of the year just closed. Congress Avould be quite Avill- 
ing to grant an apj)ro])riation to cover the needs of the committee, 
after the $700 remaining in the Treasury from the season just closed, 
and which it was hoped Avould be sufficient to carry on the Avork irnti! 
the necessary funds could thus be obtained from the (xovernment, 
• was exhausted, but the appropriation Avas not made. 

For Avant of this the committee has raised something more than 
$1,000 in addition to the amount left over from the season of 1918. 
It reports that because of its being so Avell organized, and because of 
the interest aroused by its Avork during the tA\ o previous years, more 
gardens haxe been planted in the season of 1919 than ever before Avith 
less effort by the garden committee. 

The Avar gardens in Potomac Park are especially noticeable for 
those Avho take drives there, for they shoAv a throng of interested 
Avorkers Avho are already getting good results in the way of vegetables 
this season. 

The committee thinks that with proper effort $2,500 or more might 
be obtained from the Smith-Lever fund Avith Avhich to carry on the 
AVork next year and thereafter ; and in any event arrangements should 
be made to carry on something Avhich is of such great advantage to 
the community in so many Avays. 

COMMITTEE ON LABOR. 

The committee on labor as such Avas not charged Avith any special 
responsibility in connection with the District Council of Defense 
because labor matters in the District Avere largely attended to by 



16 KEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

agencies of the Department of Labor of the Federal Government, and 
wisely handled by the local trade-unions, so that no occasion arose 
for calling the labor committee of the council together for action; 
but Mr. Holder was very helpful in connection with the general work 
of the council. 

LEGAL PROBLEMS. 

There Avas not much demand for the services of the committee on 
legal problems as such until it Avas suggested at the meeting of the 
council on March 4, 1918, that a legal committee to advise drafted men 
as to their rights and to look after the interest of their families after 
they had entered the service Avas desirable. 

This matter w^as taken up by the committee on legal problems with 
the District Bar Association, and it Avas arranged that, instead of 
appointing a committee, all the members of the association would 
give advice Avithout charge for drafted men in such circumstances. 

It Avas also reported at the meeting of April 11, 1918, that the Bar 
Association Avas Avorking out a plan for giving similar assistance in 
the matter of claims under the Avar-risk insurance act or under the 
soldiers and sailors' civil-relief act ; but it Avas not thought necessary 
to prepare for the District such a legal handbook as had been issued 
by some of the State councils. 

Advice Avas also given to other citizens in cases Avhere eviction was 
attempted. 

SANITATION. AND MEDICINE. 

The work Avhich would have been performed by the committee on 
sanitation and medicine, of Avhich Dr. William C. WoodAvard Avas 
chairman, Avas carried forAvard in the regular Avay by the health de- 
partment ; but in the matter of the control of \'enereal diseases it made 
a special report, approving in principle of the bill Avhich had been 
indorsed by the Surgeon (leneral of the Army, the Surgeon General of 
the Navy, and the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, with 
certain modifications needed to make it applicable to the District. 
Based on this a bill Avas introduced in Congress to give the commis- 
sioners the power to make and enforce the necessary regulations. 

The council also obtained and issued to men about to enter the 
service a large number of pamphlets relating to these diseases. 

aa'OMan's committee. 

Most of the Avork of the Avoman's committee Avas done by the chair- 
man, Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, and in addition to her participation 
in the general work of the council. As a member of the council, Mrs. 
Hopkins Avas faithful in her attendance at its meetings, and because 
of her Avide knowledge of local conditions and her quick interest in all 
social proljlems Avas very helpful. It was her opinion that it would 
have b.een nmch better to have the Avomen share in the AA^ork of all 
committees, as she thus did. in the work of the council, and as Avas 
subsequently arranged for by the Council of National Defense about 
the time the armistice was signed, than to separate their work as the 
formation of the Avoman's diA'ision did. 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 17 

Mrs. Hopkins Avas from the first particularly interested in the 
housing problem, but being also the representative of the woman's 
division of the Council of National Defense, chairman of the woman's 
welfare branch of the National Civic Federation, and also working 
in connection with the housing and health division of the War De- 
partment, she used in hei- eli'orts such means as were available from 
any of these sources, and thus w^orked to a certain extent independently 
of the District Council of Defense or the woman's committee as such. 
In everything which came up in this connection she displayed an un- 
wearying energy and a sympathetic interest which nuide itself felt in 
all phases of the work. 

Much interest was taken by Mrs. Hopkins and meuibers of the com- 
mittee in efforts to promote the construction of additional housing 
accommodations and in matters connected with the Children's Year 
and problems relating to child welfare generally. 

RETAIL, DELIVERIES. 

One of the first acts of the District Council of Defense in connec- 
tion with recommendations made by the commercial economy board 
of the Council of National Defense was to approve, at its meeting 
on June 21, 1917, the action taken by the bakers of the District in dis- 
continuing the privilege of returning unsold bread. This- was done 
to economize in the food supply, and was prom})tly followed by 
earnest consideration of the waste of man power and other energies, 
which was being caused by the complicated and needlessly frequent 
retail deliveries in the District. 

A special committee on retail deliveries, consisting of Mr. Easby- 
Smith and Mr. Nesbit, was appointed by the council at its meeting 
on July 19, 1917, to give particular attention to this question. On 
the resignation of Mr. Easby-Smith from the council a week later. 
Mr. Mclvelway was appointed to take his place on the committee, 
and Mr. Cox was later appointed in place of Mr. Nesbit when he 
retired from the council on November 2. 

It was found that the subject had already been taken up directly 
with the Retail Merchants' Association by the coniiuercial economy 
board, and tliat the woman's division was also at work on it through 
a committee of which Mrs. Newton D. Baker was at the head. A 
hearing was given by the committee to the retail merchants on July 
30, at wdiich the subject was fully discussed, and it was suggested 
that if purchasers took packages home they ought to receive some 
concession in the price because of the saving thus affected for the 
merchants by their unusual efforts. This suggestion the merchants 
promised to consider but no arrangement was ever made in regard 
to it. 

At the meeting of the council on January 3, 1918, Mr. Cox, as chair- 
man of the committee on retail deliveries, reported that at a meet- 
ing of the Retail Merchants' Association, at which lie was })resent, it 
was proposed to limit the deliveries to one a day and to use the equip- 
ment thus freed in relieving the congested condition of inroiiiing 
freight in the railroad yards, wliich Avas then causing a great deal oi" 

14.5740—19 3 



18 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFEISTSE. 

delay and liardsliip. Tlio council approved this action and the fol- 
lowing letter was written in support of it: 

January, 5, 1918. 
To the retail iitvrchants of Wdskiiigton: 

The unusual freight congestion existing in Washington at the present time 
makes it necessai-y for us to earnestly re(]uest all merchants to make imme- 
diately the adjustments in their business that are recommended by the com- 
mercial economy board of the Council of National Defense. 

In the .spirit of these recommendations for a curtailment of retail services, 
at a me- ting held on January 4 at the office of the conuuercial economy btard, 
at which the chairman of the special committee of this council on retail de- 
liveries was present, a group of- the large department store merchants of Wash- 
ington decided on the adoi)ti()n of these war-time measures of one delivery a 
day over each route and the elimination of the unnecessary work connected, 
with return merchiindise, C. (J. D. sales, and special deliveries. 

These nierchnnts ;ire to be commended for promptly making these changes 
in their established business routine. By their action they are making an im- 
portant contribution to the immediate national and local needs. The equip- 
ment thus released from making unnecessary deliveries is expected to afford 
substantial relief to the existing inbound-freight congestion. 

The District ('(luncil of Defense believes that the public will readily accom- 
modate themselves to this restricted service as a means of individual coopera- 
tion with the merchants in meeting the present emergency, especially as the 
savings resulting from the adoption of these plans will be reflected in closer 
prices on merchandise. 

The IHstrict Council of Defense now calls upon all other retail merchants 
to make sinfiiar adjustments in their business, as all are expected to cooperate 
with these plans. 

District Council ov Defense. 
Wm. H. Baldwin, Chairman. 

This acti(jn liad an important effect in diminishing the useless 
labor of making deliveries which were not needed, and in saving 
gasoline, whicli was then becoming so scarce. It benefited the iner- 
<'hants by hel|)ing tliem to discontinue the practice of sending goods 
to homes in the hope of increasing sales, and perhaps helped the 
])eople by removing the corresponding pressure to make purchases 
which were not really necessary. It does not appear that any special 
hardship has been occasioned by the change, nor does it appear that 
the customers liave received any benefit from the great saving which 
the merchants have undoubtedly made unless it be that prices have 
not been made as high as they otherwise Avould ha^'e been. 

At the meeting of the council on January 31, 1918, the i:)ower 
laundries presented a request for a letter about their deliveries similar 
to that sent to the retail merchants, and at its next meeting, on 
February 7, Mr. Cox, chairman of the special committee on retail 
deliveries, reported a recommendation that a letter urging the lau.n- 
dries to curtail their deliveries be written. This recommendation 
was adopted, but with the provision that a discount be allowed to 
customers who should bring in or take back their laundry packages. 
This provision was not acceptable to the laundries, and no use was 
ever made of the letter. 

At its meeting on February 21, 1918, on recommendation of the 
sf)ecial committee, the council also passed a motion urging the retail 
grocers and market men of the District to reduce their deliveries of 
food products to one delivery per day on each route, and to abolish 
the return privilege, but with the provision that the benefit of the 
savings thus effected be shared with the customer. 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 19 

This was all in line with the effort then being made to economize, 
not only in materials but in men and energy, in the effort to Avin the 
war. 

HOUSING CONDITIONS. 

Not since the journeyings of St. Ursula with her 11,000 virgins to 
their martyrdom at Cologne, some 1.500 years ago, h.as there been 
cjuch a pilgrimage of young Avomen as that Avhich moved toward 
Washington after the beginning of the war in 1917. There was on 
the part of young women engaging in it a similar enthusiasm, a will- 
ingness to leave home and kindred, a passion for any kind of service. 
a disregard of danger, and an eagerness for seeing other i^arts of 
the world such as marked the young women who were led by the 
virgin saint. The prince was in evidence also, not alone but in large 
numbers, also devoted to the service of the country, and may lisive 
had something to do with the ]:)sychology of the move-nent. 
• But there were points of diiference which were as striking as tlie 
similarity in numbers and in other characteristics. The throng which 
folloAved St. Ursula was organized, and in her leadership she was as- 
sisted iiot only by her 10 associates, each of whom was in conunand 
of her particular thousand, but also by the good bishops who helped 
the inaidens manage the sails as they were driven in their ships along 
the northern coast of p]urope and in their voyage up the Ehine until 
they went on foot from Basle over the mountains to Rome. After 
that the ])ope himself su])ported her in her leadership on the return 
journey, and the prince also, who fell in the slaughter when all of the 
party were massacred at Cologne, where their bones still lie, by the 
Huns, the ancestors of the Germans, against whom the young women 
who thronged to Washington were helping their brothers and lovers 
to fight. 

Tlie saints seem also to have accepted conditions a.s they found 
them and to have made their way Avithout complaints. e\en of their 
blessed n.iartyrdom. 

The young women Avho gathered in Washington came from all 
parts of the country and were wholly unorganized. They, too, had 
visions, not entirely celestial, of what they expected to find in the 
life there: and tliey were, many of them, not at all inclined to accept, 
in a nuirtyr spirit, the lack of elegance Avhich GoA^ernment employees 
on relatiA^ely suiall salaries had long been accustomed to in tlie modest 
homes Avhich the newcomers were clieerfully invited to share. 

In the series of beautiful pictures by Carpaccio in the Accademia 
in Venice, Avhich shoAv so Avell the striking incidents of the pilgrim; 
age of St. Ursula, there is one which reveals the dainty lady asleep 
in her chamber with her little crown put at the foot of the bed, a tidy 
over her head, and her shoes carefully placed together at the side 
of the bed, as the angel who bears the palm branch, the symbol of 
martyrdom, appears to her in the vision Avhich the picture repre- 
sents. All is neat and orderly, but though the room is apparently 
oi^ fair size, the evident barrenness of its furnishings Avould haA^e 
caused it to be refused by many girls who were looking for accom- 
modations in Washington. 

Many of the young women who were attracted by the relatively 
large salaries offered had neA'^er been aAvay from home before, and 



20 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

in the nostalgic reaction which generally aris&s after separation for 
the first time from one's family, everything different from what it 
was at home was apt to seem objectionable. It had not occurred 
to these pilgrims that the expenses must also be figured on a new 
basis, and that the advantages of life at home in a small place could 
not be expected in a crowded city. This also caused disappointment 
and led to a great many undeserved criticisms of Washington people 
who had never had outsiders in their homes before, but who were 
admitting them then from a patriotic desire to help share with them 
in this way the burden which the war imposed. 

There Avere some Washington people who were inclined to, and 
did, take advantage of the circumstances as they developed by charg- 
ing higher rates, both for rooms and for apartments and houses, but 
it may be said of them generally that they displayed an excellent 
spirit, and that the accommodations in which prices had not been 
raised, or in which the advance which came later was entirely within 
reason, constituted the great mass of such resources placed at the 
command of the Government by the people of Washington, and that 
the exceptions to this, of which a considerable proportion were on 
the part of people Avho were not actually Washingtonians, and which 
were so striking as to bring severe condemnation on the people of 
the city as a whole, were relatively few in number. 

It may be said generally also, that, as in other things, those who 
came to undertake Government work in Washington got from it 
what they brought to it. Those who appreciated the circumstances, 
who had had some experience, Avho were ready to put up with some 
necessary inconveniencas in finding a satisfactory place, and who ex- 
] )ected people to be reasonable with them were for the most part able 
to settle themselves comfortably. Those who were not inclined to 
consider the circumstances, who judged everything by the home 
standard, and who were ready to criticize and condemn when prices 
or accommodations were not to their liking instead of quietly seeking 
others, were themselves uncomfortable and helped to makes others 
so. One instance may illustrate both sides of the problem. On the 
morning of April 8, 1918, a sweet-faced, refined-looking young girl, 
who had never before been away from her home in one of the suburbs 
of Boston, came into the office of the District Council of Defense in 
great trouble because her landlady was keeping her tnmk. It de- 
veloped that the girl toward the last of March had rented her room 
at $35 per month for room and board and on this arrangement had 
paid up to the end of March. The place was not unsatisfactory, 
but because the woman who kept it had expressed some pro-German 
sentiments two or three days previously the young lady had found 
another place and informed her landlady the day before that she 
would leave on that day. To this the landlady consented, but 
charged her transient rates for the seven days, amounting to $10. 
The girl had refused to pay more than the pro rata proportion of 
the monthly rate and her trunk was being held for the difference, 
amounting to about $3. 

When it was explained to her that her landlady was right, and 
had, indeed, been considerate, because she might have claimed the 
whole $35 for the month, and also, that if the woman had turned 
her out with as little notice as she herself was giving about leaving, 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 21 

the District Council of Defense would have promptly taken her 
name off the list of possible places, she saw that she was Avrong and 
was quite willing to pay what was asked. When she next came to 
the notice of the chairman of the council, nearly a year later, she 
said that she had been very happy in her new place since. 

VAKIOUS HOUSING NEEDS. 

Not all those who came to help in the war work were young women. 
Occupying the highest rank in the incoming mass were the " dollar-a- 
year" men with their families. Many of these were men of large 
wealth who, without hesitation, rented, at prices which had been 
hitherto unknown, but which were voluntarily offered, some of the 
best residences in the city. No objection could be raised to their mak- 
ing themselves comfortable in this way during their temporary so- 
journ in the city, but what took place in this connection had a con- 
siderable influence in the suggestion of higher rents generally. 

There were men of more moderate means with their families who 
also found houses, for some time at least, without much difficulty; 
and there were young officers with their wives, and often with one or 
more children, whose means were limited and who wanted small 
apartments for light housekeeping. The supply of these was soon 
exhausted, and some of the greatest hardships experienced occurred 
in this connection. There were a great number of unmarried young 
men, many of them officers, who came to do war work here instead of 
in the field, and who required rooms. These took care of themselves 
more readily, not only because they were perhaps less critical than 
the feminine employees, but also because a large proportion of the 
people with rooms to rent preferred young men for the reason that 
they were less observant, more easily satisfied, and less likely to want 
special privileges in connection with the household arrangements. 

But the real problem consisted in finding rooms and board for the 
multitude of young women required as stenographers and typists in 
taking care of the necessary communications and office records con- 
nected with assembling the men and materials and doing the manu- 
facturing and directing connected with the war. 

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. 

This subject was at no time neglected in any way by the District 
Council of Defense, but while it promptly saw and made recommen- 
dations for the measures needed to meet the situation, it was without 
the authority, and for a long time without any of the funds needed 
to carry them out. At its first meeting, on June 9, 1917, after Com- 
missioner Brownlow, who had appealed to the citizens for rooms in 
a meeting of ministers held four days before, had spoken of the need 
of accommodations for the expected increase of from 10,000 to 12,000 
clerks likely to take place before the end of the year. Dr. R. S. Wood- 
ward, chairman of the housing committee, called attention to the need, 
not only of housing accommodations but also of supplying food for 
the additional people who were to come. At the next meeting, on 
June 21, Dr. Woodward made two definite recommendations with a 
tIbw to keeping prices for board and lodging within reasonable limits. 



22 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

namely, the construction of a large Government eating house, pos- 
sibly under the direction of the War Department, and the erection of 
barracks to house some of the large number of civilian emploj' ees ex- 
pected. An enumeration of the vacant houses in the city by the 
police was also suggested. 

At the first meeting in July it -was reported that efforts Avere being 
made to provide for the registration of rooms and for complete in- 
formation as to the number of vacant houses, which a week later Avas 
reported by Dr. WoodAvard to have been ascertained to be still be- 
tween 4,500 and 5,000. Up to that time the Young Men's Christian 
Association, through a specially organized department, had been tak- 
ing good care of all young men Avho applied to it for rooms, and the 
Young Women's Christian Association Avas doing exceptionally good 
service to the Government in finding suitable rooms Avith board for 
the young Avomen, Avho were coming in increasing numbers. Dr. 
Woodward made a very favorable report as to the cafeteria con- 
nected with it, saying that from 600 to 800 people Avere being served 
there each day, and that he had been able to obtain in it more good 
food than a groAvn man ought to eat at one time for 30 cents. Ihese 
two agencies, animated by the earnest desire, characteristic of each, 
to take good care of the young people Avho came to them, continued 
to place them, and through their appeals to the people of the city to 
have ahvays a considerable number of good rooms available. The 
benefit Avhich the Government thus deriA'ed from these tAvo voluntary 
agencies in solving its problem of taking care of the incoming Avar 
workers has been A^ery great and shoidd never be forgotten; and it 
was not until the latter part of October that the pressure for accom- 
modations began to attract public attention. 

ADA'ANCE IN RENT AVATCHED. 

Because of intimations that advances in rent Avere beginning to 
be made, the council at its meeting on July 26, 1917, decided to ask 
through the neAvspapers that all persons Avho Avere called on to pay 
an increased rent should send in the particulars about it to the Dis- 
trict Council of Defense at its office in the District Building. The 
instances of such advances Avere at first rather infrequent, but be- 
came more numerous during September and early October. From 
a careful record Avhich Avas kept of all these instances, it appeared 
that there was a rather general advance of from $2 to $5 per month 
on apartments renting for from $25 to $75 per month, averaging 
about 10 per cent, but that for higher-priced apartments, and for 
houses, practically no advances Avere made up to that time. Thg 
council took the position that no advance on account of the cost of 
fuel Avas Avarranted mitil the price had been definitely fixed, but it 
felt that because of increased expenses some slight advance in the 
rent of such apartments could not be Avholly disapproved of. 

The impression that the housing or rooming situation Avas acute 
in the District Avas due in part to newspaper correspondents Avith 
some imagination, who sent out interesting stories to their papers 
about Avhat Avas taking place in Washington. EA^en so dignified and 
reliable a p.aper as the Boston Transcript published in the latter part 
of October a statement from its Washington correspondent that tents 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 23 

ought to l)e set up on all the Government laAvns to accommodate 
the incoming workers, " for hundreds of clerks, men and women, 
knew not wliere to laj'- their heads from day to day," and " pleas 
for housing and board were so pathetic that almost every private 
family in town was then entertaining its ' paying guest.' " 

Even Avhen it Avas first declared, about that time, by the woman's 
division of the Council of National Defense, Avho were not informed 
as to the attention which the District Council of Defense was giving 
the situation, that rooms were difficult to obtain, there was a suffi- 
cient supply if only the applications for them had been made in the 
right way. About the, same time also, at the suggestion of one of 
the civil service commissioners, and with the concurrence of one of 
the District Commissioners who had been recently appointed and 
was ignorant of. or overlooked, the responsibilities committed by the 
commissioners to the District Council of Defense, a suggestion was 
made to the chamber of commerce that it undertake the listing and 
renting of rooms. With this suggestion the chamber gladly com- 
plied, and on October 29, 1917, it published a request for oifers of 
rooms through it in the work which it had undertaken. Because 
of this action by the chamber of connnerce, to Avhicli the responses 
were immediate and numerous, the District Council of Defense was 
for the time being barred from carrying out its plan of establisliing a 
central room registration office; but in order to prevent duplication 
and svstemati/e the work which was being done by the several agen- 
cies, it immediately called ia conference, to be held on November 7, 
of representatives of each, as well as of persons who had already 
been employed by several of the Government departments or bureaus 
to look after the welfare of women employees, and to aid in securing 
acconnnodations for newcomers. 

A meeting of the housing committee was also held on November 1, 
at which, after full discussion, it was requested — 

1. That a census be taken by the police department, not only of 
vacant houses but of houses where rooms or board could be furnished. 

2. That adequate restaurant facilities similar to those established 
on the Isthmus of Panama during the construction of the canal bo 
established by the Government in Washington. 

3. That an appeal be made by the District Commissioners to resi- 
dents of the District to furnish rooms in their homes for incoming 
workers, especially for young women. 

Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, chairman of the woman's committee, 
spoke of the possibility of fitting up some of the large houses in the 
city then unoccupied, to be used by the young Avomen for rooms and 
meals, stating that she had already been promised a considerablo. snni 
of money for this purpose. 

CONT-'EREKCE OX ACCOMAIODATIONS. 

At the conference on November 7 in the office of the District Coun- 
cil of Defense it was found that together the Y. M. C. A., the 
Y. W. C. A., and the chamber of commerce had more than 1,100 
available rooms listed, and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins stated that 
after looking up the question of fitting out one or more large houses 
as boarding places for young women it did not appear to her and 



24 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

her associates that there \A"as sufficient need for them to warrant 
the expenditure of the money in that way at that time. 

It was, however, apparent that there was need of a central room- 
registration office to prevent confusion, and also that there should be 
a booth at the Union Station, with an attendant in charge at all 
hours, to look after incomino; Government employees. It was under- 
stood that both these matters would be looked after by the District 
Council of Defense. 

These two recommendations were immediately taken up, together 
with those made to the District commissioners at the meeting on 
November 2, but owing to absences on the part of the officials it was 
not possible to get them acted on until some days later, when, on 
November 23, Commissioner Brownlow, with the chairman, made a 
definite request of the director of the Council of National Defense 
for $10,000 with which to establish a room-registration office, urging 
at the same time that the council make provision for additional 
restaurant facilities and housing accommodations. These requests 
were confirmed by letters going into detail and stating the situation 
strongly. 

Meantime the police had completed the enumeration of rooms 
offered, which showed a total of 1,902 places, with 3,093 rooms, 
capable of accommodating 3,984 persons. Of these 2,832 were offered 
for men only, 559 for women, and 593 for either men or women. 
In 329 places meals Avere also offered, but were not furnished in 
1,573 places, while 71 others offered to furnish meals but not rooms. 

A vigorous effort was immediately made to have these rooms in- 
spected, as it was not thought proper to send young women to any 
of them without being sure as to the character of the different places. 
The woman's connnittee was called on, and several members of it 
did some excellent work, but the task was so large and so difficult 
that they were unable to perform it promptly. Recourse was ac- 
cordingly had to the Young Men's Christian Association, but the 
results of their canvass were not important, partly because many of 
the rooms were not desirable, but chiefly because the urgent demand 
for rooms had caused many of them to be i-ented before the inspec- 
tion was made. 

At the meeting of the council on November 15, 1917, the chairman 
Avas directed to arrange for a conference with the Real Estate 
Brokers' Association in regard to the scarcity of apartments, and 
Avith the chairman of the housing committee also present. This 
conference was accordingly held in the office of the District Council 
of Defense on NoA^ember 27, 1917. Twelve of the leading real estate 
dealers in the city were present, and various recommendations grow- 
ing out of their interest and their experience Avere made, one of 
Avhich was that owners of houses should be urged to f)ut them into 
good repair and where possible to make arrangements by which the 
several floors could be used as apartments. The chairman made an 
effort to have the building regulations modified in regard to this, but 
Avas unsuccessful because the requirements were fixed by an act of 
Congress. 

As the council had no funds, the Real Estate Brokers' Association 
promised to establish a central office in which all apartments and 
houses in the hands of any member should be recorded, and such an 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 25 

office Avas soon after established and maintained at 1410 New York 
Avenne, until it was later taken OA^er on March 13, 1918, by the 
rooni-re<jistration office which was afterwards establislied. 

The District Council of Defense also obtained from the assessor's 
office, as the returns came in from the police enumeration of un- 
occupied houses, the names and addresses of the owners of all those 
which were not in ^ood repair, and turned them over to the Real 
Estate Brokers' Association, in order that they mi«ht urge the 
owners or agents to have them promptly put into good condition 
to help out with the pressing need. 

This enumeration of the imoccupied dwellings in the citv by the 
police, which was not finished and tabulated until December 13, 
showed a startling situation. The figures as compared with the num- 
ber in February, 191,5, deducting houses which were uninhabitable, 
and with Avhat it had been less than five months before, were as 
follows : 

Feb. 27, 191.1 4,714 

•Tune 26, 1917 4,737 

Nov. 15, 1917 2.088 

This shows a decline of more than 60 per cent in less than five 
months in the total number of houses available, but the situation was 
even more striking Avhen it Avas considered that the division of these 
betAveen Avhite and colored Avas approximately Avhite, 1,143; colored, 
945; and that of this total 703 Avere reported to be in poor repair, or 
in even Avorse condition, leaving approximately less than 800 good 
houses unoccupied and aAailable for incoming employees. The un- 
occupied a})artments had also declined from 715 on February 27, 
1915, to 104 on Xovembei- 15, 1917. The Council of National Defense 
was immediately advised of these facts as a reason for taking prouipt 
action. 

^u^■I)s SOUGHT for ijoom registration office. 

Meantime the money for the room registration oflice, the need of 
Avhich Avas readily admitted by the Council of National Defense Avhen 
the request Avas formally made on November '23, 1917, had been held 
up by it because, like many other people, it failed to comprehend that 
Washington Avas not like other cities in their ability to act independ- 
ently of the Federal Government, upon Avhich it Avas obliged to depend 
for funds. After two Aveeks had thus passed a definite promise of 
the money was made by its chairman on December 8 on the strength 
of Avhich the commissioners made a strong appeal to the citizens of 
the District to offer their rooms for incoming employees, directing 
them to send such offers to the District Council of Defense at its office 
in the District Building until the room registration office could be 
established. This appeal, Avhich the commissioners had delayed until 
definite arrangements Avere in sight, l)rought a multitude of offers to 
the office of the council, Avhich, on December 15, secured a desirable 
room for an office at 1321 Ncav York AA'enue NW., but about that time 
the Council of National Defense decided that it could neither give the 
money promised nor ask for it. 

A re(]uest Avas accordingly made directly to the President for a 
grant of the amount needed from his $100,000,000 fund. This was a 



26 KEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

trying time. The chamber of commerce, to whom incoming em- 
ployees were directed to apply for rooms by circulars sent out by the 
Civil Service Commission at the time of their appointment, had 
several Aveeks before declared that the task, which it had found too 
great for its resources, could only be performed properly by the 
Federal (jovernment, and had asked the District Council of Defense 
to take the work over. In the delay which took place it refused 
longer to receive applicants, and as the nuriiber arriving was increas- 
ing, much confusion arose. 

JNIrs. Archibald Hopkins, urged by the Avoman's division of the 
Council of National Defense and moved by her deep sympathy for 
the young women who were having difficulty in finding places because 
of this confusion, Avorked energetically, and to some extent independ- 
ently of the District council, to supply the apparent need, and Avith 
money from private funds and from the Avoman's Avelfare branch of 
the National Civic Federation, of Avliich she Avas also chairuian, began 
to open several unoccupied houses, as Avell as to receive and giA e out 
rooms, for Avhich she ap]^ealed. Demands were made that a registra- 
tion office be established and that a booth be opened in the Union 
Station. It took some determination for the council to refuse 
steadily, until the funds needed should be forthcoming, to make an 
attempt Avhich must necessarily fail for Avant of them, and after hav- 
ing seA'eral times been obliged to stop the preparations for opening 
the room registration office Dr. R. S. WoodAvard, chairman of the hous- 
ing committee, resigned on December -20 because of the delay. 

FUNDS GRAFTED BT PRESIDEJsT. 

The situation cleared as soon as it came to the attention of Presi- 
dent Wilsoti in the midst of the many demands upon his attention. 
He promptly signified his Avillingness to make such a grant on a 
request from the chairman of the Council of National Defense, and in 
accordance Avith tliis the District Council of Defense on December 28 
Avas allowed $6,000 for the next six months. 

Steps were immediately taken to establish the office, and as there 
was no chairman of the housing committee the responsibility for this 
fell upon the chairman of the council. J\Ir. Leroy Thonuis, Avho Avas 
an em2:)loyee of the Census Office and Avho had had some experience 
in the work Avith the chamber of commerce, Avas loaned to the council 
by the Census Bureau for a month to take charge of it. As it Avas 
impossible to occupy the office at 1321 Ncav York Avenue because of 
a lack of the heating facilities necessary to Avithstand the seA^ere 
cold which was prevailing, a beginning Avas made in the office of the 
chamber of commerce. As the chief difficulty in the work of the 
chamber had been to keep its lists checked up to know Avhether 
rooms listed Avere still available or not, cards were immediately 
provided by which each applicant on receiving the addresses of one 
or more rooms ])ound himself or herself to iunnediately advise the 
room registration office whether or not any of the rooms IkkI been 
taken, returning the card, which required no postage. A register of 
all the rooms given out, on which these cards Avere checked off as 
returned, Avas also started and the foundation of a satisfactory 
system Avas thus laid. 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 2*t 

Another pressing difficulty, however, was that of having the rooms 
inspected. The council was unwilling to send any young woman to a 
room Avhich had not been looked over and pronounced satisfactory 
by a competent inspector, and as it had only volunteers to depend 
on, the inspection was slow and irregular, while the throng coming 
into the chamber of commerce rooms continued to increase. 

It was at this juncture that the situation was again saved by the 
President of the United States, to whom a knowledge of the diffi- 
culties with which the District council was struggling in the matter 
had somehow come, and who sent over to ask whether the work could 
not be better done with more money, which would permit of paid in- 
spectors, and who promptly increased the amount from $1,000 per 
month to $1,800 per month in order to meet the additional needs. 

ROOlSr REGISTRATION OFFICE ORGANIZED. 

This increased sum also enabled the council to secure as manager, 
on the IGth of January, Mr. Edwin S. Hege, who was about to accept 
a responsible place in one of the executive departments, which he 
gave up because of the larger opportunities for serving the public 
which the room registration office ])romised. 

No better man than ]Mr. Hege could have been found for the place. 
With a legal education, Avith a knowledge of Government methods 
(gained by 10 years' i^ersonal contact in the office of The Adjutant 
Genera], with a subse(]iient ex])erience of several years with a leading 
real-estate firm in the city, and as the successful manager of an estate 
which owned one of its largest office buildings and other property, 
together with an acquaintance with many of Washington's leading 
citizens, and with a pleasing address, which put all whom he met at 
their ease, he immecliately began to work out such an organization 
and such methods as the office required. Mr. Hege was able to secure 
a force, composed mostly of young women, some of who)n had hus- 
bands connected with the military or naval service, who were lady- 
like, polite, and capable, and who did the work of the office in large 
part because they were interested in it rather than for the compensa- 
tion allowed, which was in some cases less than was paid in other 
offices for similar work. To all complaints Mr. Hege gave personal 
and unremitting attention, and by his influence he was able not only 
to smooth out misunderstandings, but also to repress or remove from 
the records those who insisted on prices for rooms which were out 
of reason. 

The office at 1321 New York Avenue was furnished and heated so 
that the work was removed to it on January 17, 1918. The place was 
light and easy of access and proved to be very well adapted to the 
requirements. It should be remarked that the owner, Mr. Charles J. 
Langmead, allowed the council to use the office without charge from 
December 15 until April 1 before beginning to collect the regular 
rent of $200 per month. 

The inspection of the rooms which were constantly offered was 
made with reasonable promptness, and as the supply of them was 
large, a conference of all the welfare workers employed by the Gov- 
ernment departments and large bureaus to help look after accommo- 
dations for incoming employees, together with a representative of 



28 REPOET OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

the Civil Service Commission, Avas lield at the office of the District 
Council of Defense on January 21, 1918, in order to have them meet 
Mr. Hege and exchange views. After a full and satisfactory discus- 
sion, it Avas determined that thereafter all applicants for rooms Avould 
be sent to the room-registration office, and all rooms otfered turne<l 
oyer to it; and it aars announced that notices stating- the facts and 
directing appointees to apply to the room registration office for 
accommodations on their arrival in Washington Avould be sent out by 
the Civil Service Commission in the case of all appointments. These 
forms Avere accordingly adopted after being approved by the District 
Council of Defense, substantially as folloAvs : 

In reply to your inquiry you are informed that the room registration office 
of the District of Colunil)ia Council of Defense, now in operation at 1321 New 
York Avenue NW.. Washington. D. C, is conducted under the auspices of the 
United States GoA-ernnient. Every possible assistance Avill he given by the 
office in the matter of securing living accommodations for Government em- 
ployees. 

Appointees who desire directions concerning rooms and board should apply 
at the room-registration office immediately upon their arrival in Washington. ' 

The room-registration office can not undertake to assign a particular room in 
adA\ance for any applicant, but the office always has a list of hundreds of rooms 
which have been carefully inspected, from which the applicant can be accom- 
modated. The prices asked for rooms and board are reasonable and not out of 
proportion to the salaries paid by the Government. 

The room-registration office is open until G p. m. Those Avho arrive on late 
trains can find rooms for the night by applying to the attendant of the District 
Council of Defense or to the agent of the Travelers' Aid at the District Council 
of Defense booth, which is prominently situated in the main Avaiting room of the 
Union Station, AA'here all trains arrive. 

It is recommended that appointees arrange to arri\'e in Washington at least 
a day in advance of the date on Avhich they expect to begin Avork, in order to 
have time to find comfortable living quarters before entering upon their duties. 

Difficulties met by newcomers have been the result of a lack of organization 
for listing rooms and furnishing information. The Avork is now th<iroughly 
organized, and no further troul^le should be experienced. 

By direction of the commission. 

Very respectfully, John A. McIlhenny, President. 

BOOTH AT UNION STATION. 

On January 24 the booth at the Union Station Avas opened, Avith 
Miss Ella M. Bateman in charge of it during eight hours each day, 
and tAvo employees of the TraA-elers' Aid during the remainder of the 
24 hours. The employees of the TraA'elers' Aid had alAAays had some 
emergency rooms, both day and night, and there had been no occa- 
sion at any time for any young Avoman to sleep in the station, unless 
she arrived so late that she preferred to ; but Avith the establishment 
of the booth there was ahvays a supply of rooms in addition from the 
room-registration office, Avhich could be obtained by those Avho arrived 
after the office Avas closed for the day. Prominent signs Avere put up 
both at the booth and in the concourse, and all excuse for difficulty 
in making connections with proper accommodations on the arrival 
of young Avomen or others was removed. 

As the work progressed Mr. Hege developed other forms and re- 
ports for use in the room-registration office in order to register rooms 
and prevent delays or misunderstandings. These Avere based on 
actual experience "as to Avhat Avas required, and as the Washington 
office was the first established in the country, they served as models 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 



29 



for similar offices in others cities when they were organized later by 
the officials of the Department of Labor. 

In receiving offers of looms the room-registration office did what 
it could to keep the rates reasonable, and through its constant appeals 
a good supply Avas maintained. The record of those on liand aufl 
available for several dates Avas as fblloAvs • 



Men. 



AA'omen 
or either. 



Feb.1,1918 1,876 2,011 

Mar.2,1918 1,729 | 1,1.54 

Apr. 8, 1918 1 1,826 | 1,594 



Total 
rooms. 



Capable 

of accom- 

I modating 

I persons. 



3,887 
2,885 
3,420 



4,485 
5,684 



It Avill be seen that, notAvithstanding the urgent demand, the sup- 
ply kept up fairly Avell, though it should be said that the number 
of rooms for single persons, and in the nearer or more desirable por- 
tions of the city, naturally became steadily less. The number of 
persons to Avhom addresses were given out is shoAvn by the folloAving 
table, Avhich giA^es the record by months up to the time when the room 
registration office was taken over from the District Council of De- 
fense bv the Housing Corporation of the Department of Labor on 
September 16, 1918 : 

Number of per- 
• sons receiving 

addresses. 

1918: 

.Tamuiry 9 to 31 1 962 

February 2,439 

March 3, 462 

April 5,025 

May 2, 612 

June 2, 535 

July 2, 665 

August 3, 662 

September 1 to 16 4, .323 

Total 27, 685 

During all this time cordial relations Avere maintained with the 
Young Women's Christian Association and the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association, both of which continued to furnish rooms to those 
who preferred to obtain them through their offices, as well as with the 
Congressional Club, the churches, and other effective organizations 
which were interested in local housing matters. 

FURTHER EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS. 



About the 1st of January the housing and health division was 
formed in the War Department, and Mr. Z. L. Potter, who had come 
to Washington to take charge of the welfare work in the Ordnance 
Department, Avas given a major's commission and put in charge of it. 
Maj. Potter went at the Avork zealously, and having been granted not 
only an adequate foi"ce but also the sum of $25,000 Avith which to 
open u]) unoccupied houses, was able to furnish and organize a con- 
siderable nimiber of them with the cooperation of Mrs. Archibald 



30 KEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

Hopkins. This work was being done independently of the council, 
though INIrs. Hopkins reported at the meeting of the council on 
January 24, 1918, that she had with private funds, amounting to 
$2,408.25, opened eight such houses capable of accommodating 141 
persons. 

From the figures given out from time to time by the Civil Service 
Commission as to the large number of employees expected, it was 
evident that more rooms than the city could furnish would probably 
be needed, and the use of steamers on the river to help out the supply 
was seriously suggested. The District Council of Defense, which, 
as early as December 6, 1917, had formally recommended that the 
Federal Government furnish additional housing accommodations, 
renewed its recommendation and urged that the Government take 
immediate steps to supply them, and meantime arranged with the 
Federation of Citizens' Associations, which seemed to be the best 
organization for covering the entire city, to make a thorough and 
systematic canvass for all additional rooms which residents were 
willing to offer. ; 

A meeting of the federation was held in the District Building on 
February' 2 to discuss plans, and on February 14 there was another 
meeting in the District Building of all those who were to engage 
personally in the canvass, in order to discuss forms and standardize 
methods of inspection. The canvass was undertaken soon after this, 
and in connection with it the District Council of Defense called atten- 
tion to the fact, that as even temporary buildings would cost the Gov- 
ernment $600 for each person provided for, anyone who took in a 
clerk would save the Government that amount; but in spite of all 
the preparations and the diligent efforts made, the number of addi- 
tional rooms reported by those who took r)art was less than 1,000. 
This was probably because the city had already been so thoroughly 
gone over by the room-registration office and those interested in secur- 
ing rooms for it. 

At the request of tlie District Council of Defense and in order 
to secure accurate information as to the housing situation, the Dis- 
trict Commissioners caused the police to make anotlier census of the 
unoccupied dwellings in the city on March 1, 1918. This enumera- 
tion, which Avas finished on March G, showed that aside from 140 
alley houses, all of which were for colored people and under the law 
must be vacated as dwellings on July 1 following and two-thirds of 
which were in poor repair or dilapidated, there were in the city only 
889 unoccupied dwellings, of which all but 454 were in poor repair 
or dilapidated. Of this number, 209 were classified as dwellings for 
colored people, leaving only 245 residences in the whole city for rent 
to white persons. 

This caused the District Council of Defense to redouble its efforts 
to obtain rooms for the room-registration office and it proceeded to 
make another systematic effort to reach all the available rooms which 
might still remain in the city through the Government departments 
and bureaus. About 25,000 registration cards' wore printed, and 
after thorough consultation with the chief clerks of the various de- 
partments and large bureaus, all of Avhom took a great interest in the 
plan and were very helpful, a general appeal was made to all Gov- 
ernment employees to make every effort to obtain in their neighbor- 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 31 

hoods tliionghoiit tlio community additional rooms for employees 
who were still to come. This canvass took place about the middle of 
April and was apparently well and faithfully made, but in this also 
the number of rooms obtained was less than 1,000. 

It was apparent that those who were able to furnisli rooms had 
already been almost all reached by previous appeals and that not 
many more accommodations ( ould be obtained from existing houses 
in the city. 

EFFORTS TO SECURE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION. 

Early in February a housing- bill carrying $10,000,000 for the 
needs of the District was introduced in the House and a hearing was 
had before the Committee on Laboi", to which it was referred. At 
this hearing the District Council of Defense was represented, and 
when Mr. Otto M. Eidlitz was appointed director of housing in the 
Department of Labor the chairman of the District Council of De- 
fense on February 20, 1918, immediately placed the council at the 
service of the director in his work for the District. 

Feeling the need of more accurate knowledge as to the expected 
number of employees than had been afforded uj) to this time by the 
lump-sum figures given out by the Civil Service Commission, the 
chairuian took steps to ascertain through it how many were exj^ected 
in each department or large bureau before and after the 1st of July 
following, Avith a view to getting a detailed record of those who 
were appointed and discharged and so to determining what the 
housing needs of the city actually were. Information as to this step 
Avas also communicated to the chief of the housing and health divi- 
sion of the War Department, Avho had already attempted in some 
instances to speak for the people of the city, in order that any con- 
flict of effort might be aA^oided, but because of his connectioii with 
the War Department and not realizing the situation as to the Dis- 
trict goveruuient and its representatives in District matters the direc- 
tor of housing on Febinary 2.") saAv fit to designate the chief of the 
housing and health division as his personal representative in matters 
relating to housing in the District. 

The chief of the housing and health division immediately Avent 
forward to secure the information for Avhich the District Council of 
Defense had asked in regard to the numbers of employees who Avere 
to come, to communicate Avith contractors and real estate men in the 
District, to submit estimates for committees in Congress, and to take 
■charge of the housing matters generally, even to giving directions to 
the room-registration office. It Avas naturally impossible for the Dis- 
trict Council of Defense to give attention to these matters Avithout 
causing confusion, and it contented itself Avith ]Drotecting the room- 
registration office, which had been establislied under the grant from 
the President, and in providing accommodations from the resources 
at its command ; and it was not until a statement Avas made at a hear- 
ing on the housing bill before the Senate committee early in April 
that the supply of rooms in the room-registration office would be 
exhausted by May 1, 1918, that action by it became necessary. Influ- 
enced largely by this statement the Civil Service Commission on 
April 12, without conferring with the room-registration office, sent a 



32 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

letter to each of the departments directing- that the letter of instruc- 
tions issued in pursuance of the conference in January, telling ap- 
pointees to apply to the room-registration office for accommodations, 
be withdraAvn, on the ground that these accommodations were on the 
point of being exhausted. This action, which was unwarranted, in 
the face of the fact that the supply of available rooms was being so 
well kept up, Avas so prejudicial to tlie intei-ests of the Government 
that ])esidos correcting the statement witli the director of housing and 
the chairman of the Senate committee the chairman of tlie District 
Council of Defense and the manager of the room-registration office 
had a conference next day with the Civil Service Commission, in 
which the situation was fully explained and better relations estab- 
lished. It was understood that no further action of any kind would 
be taken by the commission without conferring with the District 
Council of Defense and the room-registration office. 

After being put in and taken out and again put in tlie District was 
finally included in the housing bill as it passed, with the sum of 
$10,000,000 provided for new construction. As the situation de- 
veloped the director of housing put himself directly in touch with the 
District Commissioners, and it was understood that no important 
action Avould be taken in the construction of additional accommoda- 
tions without the full knowledge of the commissioners, nor without 
recourse to the records of the assessor's office, the building inspector, 
and the other departments of the District government for informa- 
tion which would help in judging as to values and locations. 

It was also understood that the room-registration office would keep 
directly in touch with the director of housing as to the number of 
rooms available and the number likely to be needed ; and these ar- 
rangements, by bringing the commissioners and the District govern- 
ment as such into the problem in order to insure the recognition of 
their authority by those who had the power and the means to work 
out the solution, very largely relieved the District Council of Defense 
from further responsibility in regard to housing matters. 

It was finally determined to erect the additional buildings needed 
for Government employees on Government land between the Union 
Station and the Capitol and elsewhere. The work w^as pushed for- 
ward in the former location, and attractive and comfortable dormi- 
tories were finally erected, capable of accommodatinsr 1,900 persons, 
but none of these were completed until after the armistice was signed, 
so that aside from the unoccupied houses which were furnished and 
opened with the grant of $25,000 made through the War Department 
at the beginning of 1918, and some houses which were commandeered 
by the Government some seven or eight months later, the problem of 
caring for incoming Government employees was met by the citizens 
of Washington. 

When the Saulsbury resolution, forbidding an increase in. rent or 
the eviction of the tenant, was passed on May 31, 1918, Mr. Hege, as 
secretary of the council, prepared and distributed widely a synopsis 
explaining just what the rights of tenants under it were, and by per- 
sonal advice in a multitude of cases tried to see that the purpose of 
the resolution was carried out. 

The council regretted that it was found impossible to enact a meas- 
ure which would really regulate rents, instead of having to be content 



KEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 33 

with one which simply preserved the status quo, and worked injustice 
to many people in order to prevent injustice to a much larger num- 
ber; but since Congress had seen fit to pass the resolution it made 
every effort to see that its provisions were strictly carried out. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES. 

In connection with its general activities the District Council of 
Defense has responded to calls for assistance from other agencies 
as they have arisen. 

Recruiting for the Regular Army. — When the President issued his 
proclamation calling for recruits to the number of 70,000 to be ob- 
tained during the week beginning June 23, 1917, in order to fill up 
the Regular Army, the council took the matter up in earnest, and 
by public apjDcals. as well as by motion pictures, endeavored to aid 
in securing the 393 men given as the quota for the District. The 
effort was continued through the Federation of Citizens' Associa- 
tions, some of which held meetings on July 4 in order to encourage 
recruiting. Although its (juota was not filled, the District by this 
effort secured about the same proportion of men as the iiverage ob- 
tained throughout the States, and the development of the draft made 
it imnecessary to carry the matter further. 

United States Boy.s'' Working Re.serre. — The council, soon after 
its organization, began an earnest effort to promote the enrollment 
of boys in the United States Boys' Working Reserve. It had re- 
peated conferences not only with the general officers, but also with 
those in charge of the work in the District, both in 1917 and 1918; 
and it assisted in finding pla( es for some of the boys enrolled. 

In March, 1918, it also worked with the United States Employment 
Service in securing men to perform the labor needed for the gardens 
in the District and in the country surrounding it. 

Four-Minute Men. — The District Council of Defense took part in 
the selection of a chairman for the Four-Minute Men for the District, 
wdiere the organization was not (ompleted as early as in some of the 
larger cities. Its members participated in the meetings of the Four- 
Minute Men and to some extent in the addresses given. It worked 
with the director in securing a successor for the chairman when he 
gave up the place, and kept in constant touch with the work as it 
went on, 

Shippi^^g labor reserve.- — When an appeal was made by the chair- 
man of the United States Shipping Board in January, 1918, for the 
enrollment of 2^0.000 men as a shipping labor reserve, the District 
Council of Defense took prompt action. It not only consulted with 
the Shipping Board officials but it secured the appointuient of Mr. 
Charles Y. Wheeler as district director of the I'^nited States Public 
Service Reserve, to take charge of the enrollment in the District. 
The campaign was conducted during the two weeks beginning on 
January 28, 1918. and Mr. Wheeler used his office for taking applica- 
tions. The quota for the District was 1,390 men, and the result of 
his efforts and of appeals made by the District Council of Defense 
through the papers and otherwise was that more than 1,400 men were 
secured. 



34 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

Health work. — In connection with the effort to promote the com- 
fort and contentment of Government employees, especially of the 
3^oung women who were coming to Washington in snch large num- 
bers, the suggestion was made by several persons that more might 
be accomplished if those who were employed by the different depart- 
ments and large bureaus to do this welfare work were brought into 
closer touch. Such a conference, called by the District Council of 
Defense, was accordingly held in its office on March 1, 1918, at which 
about 20 persons were present. After an exchange of view^s and state- 
ments as to the provisions already made in some of the departments 
for care in the case of sudden illness or other emergencies, a com- 
mittee was appointed to make recommendations as to the employment 
in all departments and important bureaus of a sufficient number of 
doctors and nurses, as well as welfare workers, and the provision of 
rest rooms and other facilities. These recommendations, wdien made 
some time later, were forwarded to the various departments and 
bureaus. They wer favorably rceivd by all, and the appointments 
recommended were made in several of them. 

C ommumty centers. — When the value of the community center as 
an adjunct .to the State council of defense was emphasized by a letter 
sent by President Wilson to the various State councils about the 1st 
of March, 1918, it was apparent that the District was actually in 
the lead in this subject because of the progress already made, in 
which Miss Margaret Wilson had been so" active. The District 
Council of Defense promptly informed the Council of National 
Defense of the facts in regard to the situation in the District. It 
also held several conferences witli Miss Cecil B. Norton, the general 
secretary of the comnnmity centers. Avho is herself a modern St. 
Ursula so far as her absorption in and devotion to this important 
movement is concerned. Through its efforts representatives of the 
Council of National Defense Avere conducted with Miss Norton to 
Avitness the w^ork carried on in a number of the community centers, 
in which social entertainments were being: provided for the young 
men and young women who had come to Washington both as civilian 
employees and in the military and naval service, and where instruc- 
tion was being given in various subjects, including the preparation 
of food, so necessary in the conservation which was being enjoined 
by the Food Administration. 

Americanization of aliens. — The subject of the Americanization of 
aliens was brought up in February. 1918, but no active steps were 
taken by the District Council of Defen'-e in regard to it until the 
meeting held on April 11, 1918, at which the chairman made a 
report of Avhat he had learned in attending the conference of repre- 
sentatives from all the States, held in the Interior Building on 
April 3, 1918, at the call of Secretary Lane. The chairman stated 
that he had also learned that something more than 400 alien enemies 
had been found in the District, all but 15 or 20 of whom had been 
excluded from it by the Department of Justice, the few who were 
left being allowed for special reasons to remain; that relatively 
few naturalizations of persons of other nationalities were then taking 
place, but that some teaching of aliens in the District was being 
carried on. 

After consideration of the facts in regard to the matter the 
chairman, by direction of the council, appointed as a committee 



REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 35 

for the District on the Americanization of aliens, Mr. Ernest L. 
Thurston, Miss R. E. Shanley, Mrs. Adolph Kahn, Mrs. W. I. 
Adams, Mr. W. C. Clephane, and Mrs. Margarita Spalding Gerry. 
This committee has been actively and earnestly at work, and as 
one result of its labors the commencement exercises for a class of 38 
foreigners who had been receiving instruction as a preparation for 
naturalization was held in the old Central High School Building 
on the evening of March 12, 1919, at which an address was made by 
Congressman Mondell, of Wyoming, and the diplomas were pre- 
sented by Chief Justice Walter I. McCoy, of the Supreme Court 
of the District. 

Children's year. — The District Council of Defense took an active 
interest in the Children's Year, to which its attention was called 
through the Avoman's committee, of which Mrs. Archibald Hopkins 
is chairman. A general committee with Mrs. Whitman Cross as 
chairman was appointed for the District, and of this Dr. William 
C. Woodward and Mr. William H. Baldwin were both members. An 
effort to secure an appropriation from Congress, such as was being 
made by many States for the work in the States was unsuccessful, and 
it became necessary to raise money by private subscription. Enough 
was obtained to provide for an office and printing expenses and to 
pay a secretary until toward the close of the year, which began on 
April 1, 1918. Great numbers of children were weighed and 
measured, and the varying program as mapped out by the Federal 
Children's Bureau was followed. When the funds were exhausted, 
toward the close of the year, the District Council of Defense took 
over the secretary of the committee as its employee, and the com- 
mittee was thus enabled to complete its work in good shape. The 
results of this patient effort, prolonged during the year, will no 
doubt be left in the after life of man}' of the future citizens of 
Washington. 

Federal Eviployinent Service. — When the apj^ropriation for the 
Federal Emploj'ment Service ran out in March, 1919, because of the 
failure of Congress to pass the appropriation bill, there was great 
danger that returning soldiers, sailors, and marines would suffer 
liardship because of the lack of any agency through whom they 
could obtain employment. The District Commissioners suggested 
to the District Council of Defense that as this was really war work, 
connected with closing up the obligations of the Government to the 
soldiers who had risked so much for the country, it would be quite 
proper for the council to employ such persons as were really neces- 
sary to look after the interests of the men who were coming back. 
At a meeting held on March 29, 1919, the council accordingly passed 
unanimously a motion to employ for three months beginning April 
1, 1919, the three persons who were then found to be most essential 
in carrying on this very necessary service for the returning soldiers 
and sailors. 

Federal representatives. — At the request of the Council of National 
Defense a conference of the various representatives of the Federal 
Government in the District was called by the District Council of 
Defense on March 18, 1918, at which Mr. Jolni Poole, representing 
the District War Loan Organization ; Mr. Daniel J. Callahan, repre- 
senting tlie National AVar Savings Committee; Mr. Jolm L. Weaver, 



36 EEPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 

representing the Fuel Administration ; Hon. Henry White, Director 
of the American Red Cross; and Mr. McCormick Blair, of the Four 
Minute Men, were present. A general discussion of the various activi- 
ties took place, which brought all interests nearer together. It was 
understood that further meetings would be held if for any reason it 
seemed desirable, but no further occasion for calling such a confer- 
ence arose. 

The District Council of Defense also assisted to some extent in 
the establishment of motor-truck routes, in the enforcement of the 
eight-hour law for the work of women, in securing the shipment of 
building material for houses and apartments in process of erection, 
ni the appointment of a traffic manager at the time of the freight 
blockade, and in the distribution of various posters connected with 
war work. 

In numerous instances, also, Mr. Hege Avas able to assist persons 
who had made purchases on the installment plan and were in danger 
of foreclosure from inability to meet the terms of the contract be- 
cause of having relatives in the Army or of other war conditions. 
In every case but one the seller readily complied with Mr. Hege's 
suggestion. 

The council also assisted in the work of the priorities division of 
the War Industries Board as to the regulation of new construction 
in the District, and in connection with that the chairman and vice 
chairman were present at a meeting of representatives from all the 
States, which was called at the Hotel Washington on November 11, 
1918, to take further measures as to the conservation of building ma- 
terial. It was at this meeting that the announcement was made by 
Secretary Lane, who was chairman of the meeting, that because of 
the signing of the armistice there was no longer any need of closer 
restrictions, but that the policy would be changed, and the require- 
ments relaxed, as was done by new rules promulgated in the after- 
noon. 

SUSPENSION or ACTIVITIES AFTER THE ARMISTICE. 

Following this meeting a conference was held next day by the 
representatives of the State councils present, and the question of dis- 
continuing their activities was discussed. On consultation with the 
District Commissioners as to what course the District Council of De- 
fense should take, it was their opinion that it would not be necessary 
for the council to keep its office in the District Building open after 
the end of the month, but that it would be well to maintain the organi- 
zation to meet any demands which might arise later. The office in the 
District Building was accordingly discontinued on December 1, 1918, 
and communications have since been addressed to, and attended to 
by, the chairman of the council, Mr. William H. Baldwin, at 1415 
Twenty-first Street, Washington, D. C. 

The District Council of Defense throughout its existence has had 
but one object in view, to assist in winning the war, and to do what- 
ever lay in its power to support the agencies engaged in this, 
whether Federal or local, official or unofficial. Without legal entity, 
without any appropriation for the council as such during the greater 
part of the time, in the midst of the throng which crowded into" 
Washington without comprehending the conditions under which 



REPOKT OF DISTRICT COUNCIL OF DEFENSE. 37 

the District is organized, and to some extent in the " no man's hmd " 
between Federal and District responsibilities, its task has required 
tact and patience. 

In all of its responsibilities it has had the constant help and co- 
operation of the newsjDapers of Washington, and it desires here to 
cordially thank them all for the wisdom and fairness which they 
have always shown. It would often have been possible to make 
articles relating to the situation in Washington more entertaining 
by exaggeration, as is sometimes done, but the council, while giving 
the jDapers the facts fully at all times requested that they should not 
be stated in such a way as to increase the difficulties with which the 
citizens of Washington were struggling. In this the papers co- 
operated, and while thus keeping the people here and elsewhere cor- 
rectly informed as to conditions, helped to make the best of the 
situation for everbody as it developed. 

It has been loyal to the District connnissioners, by whom it was 
appointed, and has done all in its power to share with them burdens 
which have at times been almost crushing by reason of the added 
problems of the war. It has met all difficulties frankly, and has 
done its best to protect the interests of all who have come within 
its range. It cordially thanks all who have given it their support 
in its efforts, and they have been many, and is rejoiced to lay down 
its responsibilities, now that the occasion for them has ceased to 
exist. 

Wm. H. Baldwin. Joseph W. Cox. 

John Poole. Jeremiah A. O'Leary. 

Wm. B. King. Wm. C. Woodward. 

George M. Kober. Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. 

Arthur E. Holder. Edwin S. Hege. 



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M,!?'!.'^"^ O"" CONGRESS 



020 933 447 1 



